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Jacob E. Melson

    
Wednesday, January 11 2006 @ 05:48 AM MST
Contributed by: River97
Views: 2,100
Individuals USwww.adn.com -- WASILLA -- Six months before he died in Iraq, Army National Guard Spc. Jacob E. Melson put on his uniform, stood at the foot of Hatcher Pass and married a girl he met at a local church.

Before that, his mother and sister said Tuesday, Melson was a goofy, funny Valley kid who snowboarded, made his family laugh and was prone to juggle when bored.



A crew chief, Melson didn't tell his mother, Teresa Melson, much about his job because he didn't want her to worry. She did anyway, Teresa Melson said.

She's felt numb ever since she learned he was one of four Alaskans killed when their Black Hawk helicopter crashed Jan. 7 in Iraq. "Since the day he left, I just never thought he would be coming home this way."

The Melsons are an Alaska family. Jacob, 22, was born at Providence hospital but grew up in the Mat-Su, mainly Wasilla. He was the third of four children and the son of Mark Melson, an Alaska Army National Guard captain.

Described by his family as a smart young man with a knack for technology, Melson attended Colony High School but dropped out and earned his GED in 2001 at the Alaska Military Youth Academy at Camp Carroll.

The family attended the Gospel Outreach Christian Center along the Palmer-Wasilla Highway, where Melson met his future wife, Sarah, who is now in the Navy.

The two wed on a sunny day in July.

"She left for boot camp a week or two after they got married, and then he left for Iraq," Teresa Melson said.

Capt. Robert Seymour, a helicopter pilot for the Guard, flew with Melson about 18 months ago on an emergency mission near Kotzebue.

"He was extremely dedicated," Seymour said.

Seymour said he and his crew had just dropped off some medical personnel at the airport in Kotzebue when a call came in about a man who had accidentally shot himself and was stuck at a remote cabin outside the hub village.

Local officials asked the Guardsmen to help. "We made two phone calls, jumped in the plane and went back up," Seymour said.

A short time later they loaded the man into the helicopter to fly him to Kotzebue for treatment. As crew chief, Melson was in charge of the cargo and passengers in the aircraft, and he did an excellent job on the run, Seymour said.

"I had absolute confidence in him," Seymour said. "He was very professional. ... Just his enthusiasm and dedication and work ethic, from the way he maintained the helicopter to how he performed while flying. ... He was an outstanding individual."

Rachel Melson, Jacob's sister, remembers her brother listening to country and Christian music, playing video games and skateboarding in the Valley. Three days after his death, she searched for the right words to describe him.

"It's kind of hard to talk about," she said. "I don't know. I love him. I'm going to miss him."
 
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Jacob E. Melson
Authored by: anonymous on Wednesday, January 11 2006 @ 09:55 PM MST
Jacob,
I would like to say thank you to you and the other soldiers who were on that Blackhawk with you for your service and sacrifice for our Country. And to your family, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

A grateful citizen
Jacob E. Melson
Authored by: anonymous on Friday, January 13 2006 @ 01:51 AM MST
Jacob Eugene, my baby boy. A friend to everyone human or animal. So quiet, so gentle. Never needed to be entertained, so very smart! He always found something to do. From a young boy laying the floor reading the news paper beside me, throwing ninja stars at defenseless trees, Dancing to his favorite song, when he thinks no one is watching, to the Godly man who stood tall and believed in his country! I miss you more an more with each heartbeat. I love you … till I see you again !
your momma
Jacob E. Melson
Authored by: anonymous on Saturday, January 14 2006 @ 01:59 PM MST
TO JACOB, JACOB'S MOTHER AND FAMILY; THANK YOU JACOB FOR SERVING OUR GREAT NATION. AN FOR BEING A MILITARY BROTHER TO OUR SON. SADLY, NEVER MET UNTIL TODAY. STILL BOTH BROTHERS PROTECTING AND WATCHING OVER EACH OTHER AND THEIR MILITARY FAMILY. REALIZE THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO REACH OUT TO YOUR COMMUNITY AND POLITICAL LEADERS TODAY. TO REQUEST A STREET BE NAMED IN JACOBS HONOUR. AFTER ALL HE SERVED HIS COMMUNITY, COUNTY, STATE, AND COUNTRY. IT IS THE VERY LEAST HIS COMMUNITY CAN DO TO HONOUR JACOB. JACOB IS SOMEONE'S SOMEONE AND HE IS SOMEONE TO THE WAHL FAMILY. AN SHOULD BE SOMEONE TO ALL AMERICAN'S. WE AS FALLEN FAMILIES CAN NOT ALLOW OUR FALLEN TO BE FORGOTTEN AND OR DISRESPECTED. AMERICA DID ENOUGH OF THAT WITH OUR VIETNAM VETERANS! JACOB WAS A VERY UNSELFISH MAN AND SOLDIER. HEALING IS A VERY SLOW PROCESS. TAKE IT ONE DAY AT A TIME. YOU HAVE MANY AVENUE'S TO HELP YOUR FAMILY. OTHER FALLEN FAMILIES WILLING TO HELP. TO JACOB'S MOTHER PLEASE CHECKOUT WWW.FALLENHEROESMEMORIAL.COM CLICK ON LINKS MANY ORGANIZATIONS THAT CAN BE HELPFUL. MY HEART AND PRAYS ARE WITH JACOB AND YOUR FAMILY. FALLEN SOLDIER SGT GREGORY L. WAHL US ARMY BALAD, IRAQ 05-03-04
Jacob E. Melson
Authored by: anonymous on Saturday, January 14 2006 @ 05:40 PM MST
Rachel and Teresa I am so sorry to hear about Jacob. I don't know if you guys will read this but I just wanted you to know that you both are in my heart and prayers. Love Rosie
Jacob E. Melson
Authored by: anonymous on Wednesday, May 03 2006 @ 05:49 PM MDT
IT HITS LIKE A TON OF STONE, THE WORDS I'M SORRY WHEN YOU HAVE LOST SOMEONE SO YOUNG. THE NIGHT WE SAID GOODBYE TO JACOB IT WAS SO COLD AND WITH A DUSTING OF SNOW FALLING OVER THE VALLEY, MY DRIVE HOME TO SUTTON WOULD TAKE SOMETIME SO I TOOK A SECOND TO ASK OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN, WHY JAKE?
WHEN I OPENED MY EYES MY HEART HAD IT'S ANSWER, AS EVERY LIGHT IN THE VALLEY REACHED FOR HEAVEN AND THE STARS, I CRIED.
I PRAY MORE NOW, I THINK MORE ABOUT THE LIVES LOST TO KEEP ME FROM HARMS WAY. HOW EASY IT IS TO SAY I'M SORRY.....IT COULD HAVE BEEN MY SONS.
OUR LOVE FOR JAKE MAKES THE DAYS SUNNY AND AS I LOOK AT THE SNOW ON THE MOUTAIN TOPS IN THE VALLEY I PRAY GOD GIVES JAKE....POWDER DAYS FOREVER, HE EARNED IT HERE ON EARTH.. I LOVE AND MISS YOU SO MUCH JACOB E MELSON

  • Jacob E. Melson - Authored by: anonymous on Tuesday, August 22 2006 @ 03:38 AM MDT
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